Fixture chain



Junezs, 1929. L LAUPOT 1,718,368

FIXTURE CHAIN Filed Jan. 17, 1927 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 'D f E f I l 1%@ y??laf/0 O.; f l :O o: lr i l i I l I z i g I i l ,l 1 1 C: I@ .J ri/ m 6 5n i i l i I I I i z 1 1 e s l I l I l j" G O:

IN VEN TOR.

3y/M 9 AM 'A TTORNEY Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS LAUPOT, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO lUNIVERSAL METAL CHAIN CO.

' INC., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

FIXTURE CHAIN.

Application filed January 17, 1927. Serial No. 161,554.

My invention relates to chains, and particularly tochains adapted toutilization in an electric light fixture, to support membersof thefixture and conceal the conductors supplying the lights. Lightingfixtures of the electrolier type quite commonly incorporate in theconstruction thereof chain members for the support of various parts. Forinstance, in the indirect and semi-indirect pattern of fixtures, a bowlmember is used within which the lamps are position. These bowls arecommonly supported by one or more chain members, depending from a canopymember which may be attached tothe ceiling of the room, or to otherconvenient support. In other cases a lamp and shade with a socket aresupported by a single chain from a suitable canopy, which in turn isattached to the ceiling or other support. In the past these chains havebeen of a very simple pattern, rather unornamental, and without suitableprovision for the passage and concealment of the conductors which supplythe light. lVhere these conductors are electric wires, they havefrequently been allowed to dangle freely from the canopy to the light.In other cases they have been wound around one of the chains. In eachcase, therefore, the conductors have been exposed to View, and have beenawkward and ungainly in appearance, and have seriously detracted fromthe grace and beauty of the fixture. Likewise'inmany other cases it hasbeen found desirable to incorporate chain members into variousStructures, and to parallel the chain with a. conductor, and in nearlyevery case the conductor has been conspicuously visible, so as todetract from the appearance of the structure.

I have invented a. new and improved chain construction which is adaptedto ornamenta- .tion in various ways, which makes provision for theconcealment ofthe conductors and which `is ahighly desirable element forincorporation in the structure of a lighting fixture or similarornamental device.

The chain of my invention provides a plurality of serial link members.which may desirably be made with flat portions, and a tuhular portion soconstruct-ed that the tubes in successive links are in alignment,through which the conductor may bev drawn, and within which it is hiddenfrom view, the links thus being ornamental in character, sufficientlystrong to support the fixture members, and

adapted to conceal a conductor. The tubular channel through thesuccessive links may be a single channel lar e enough to take twoconductors, for use w 1ere a single chain carries the light. Or thelinks may Vincorporate two tubes, cach large enough to carry twoconductors, in the event that the fixture requires two circuits, orsmaller, to take a single conductor each, in' the event that but asingle circuit is required. l Or the channel may be single and largeenough for but a. single conductor, for use where a plurality of chainsare utilized, and entering and returning conductors may be conveyed inseparate chains.

By the device of my inventionI have thus produced a highly ornamentalchain, of adequate strength, which is adapted to position, convey andconceal conductor members. This is the principal purpose of myinvention, but other objects and vdetails will be apparent from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein 1 is a vertical View of a lighting fixtureincorporating a length of the chain of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a simple form of the chain of my inventionembodied in the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge View of a single half-member portion of a linkof theembodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section of a link of the embodiment shownin Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modification of the chain of my inventionshowing two tubular portions Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section ofthe embodiment of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view of an alternativeembodiment of my invention in which the auxiliary connecting links areformed from integral tongues of the main links;

y Fig. 8 is a view in horizontal section of the embodiment of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side view of thesame embodiment shown in Fig. 7 at rightangles to the showing of Fig. 7;

Fig. l() is a side view of a further modification showing a pluralityofl tubes at the edges thereof; Y l

Fig. 1l is a horizontal section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 10; Y

Fig. 1Q is n View of a further modification Cil Referring to theiignres,andparticularly` Figs. 2, 3 and 4,1 provide link members asshown, which `may be formed trom stamped sheet metal, having flat wingportions 1 and '2, and havinga semicircularly curved portion` Sasindicated in Fig. 3. Pertorations 4 and 5 ar provided as indicated andauxiliary link members 6 and 7 are incorporated between successiveVwings ot the principal links Vfor holding the series et links in properrelationship.. As indicated, in Fig. 4 two ot the flat members of 3 areutilized'in each link, the 'hollews ot the curved portions beingIpositioned 'face to tace Ytor the formation of a tubular channelthrough each link. The successive tubular channels in successive linksarej then maintained in alignment by the auX- iliary links 6 and 7,:forming a complete channel from end to end et the length ott chain,through which suitable conductors 8V may be conveyed.

A lengthot chain so constructed may desirably be incorporated in afixture Yas indicated in Fig. 1, acanopy member' 9V having a center tube11, and a ring member 12 is provided. A pair of auxiliary links 14 maybeutilized to support the upper. end el the chain15 as indicated, thelinks 14 being inserted in the openings 4 and 5 of the links and passedthrough the ring member 12. A socket member 16 and shadel? enclosing alamp, not shown, maybe attached to the lower end ot the chain by meansot a loop member 18 and other auxiliary link members 19 as indicated.VThe conductor 8- may then be passed through openings in the loop members12 and 18., and through the channel termed by the portions 3 of thesuccess-ive lin-ks. By this construction,y as previously stated,adequate strength tor the support oi the lamp and shade members isprovided, and a channel for the conveyance and concealment of theconductors is 'formed in the supporting chain. By this means theconductor members are substantially invisible when in place, and theundesirable appearance `ot' a. loosely vhanging conductor or a conductorthreaded around the linksof an ordinary chain is avoided.

The construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is ot the ultmostsimplicity and is particularly adapted vto utilization with' a fixturehavingvbut a single chain and buta single supply circuit thereto.

In the event that two circuits are desired to the lights, a chain of thepattern shown in Figs. land 6 may be utilized, in which, asindicated,two channels are provided through the length oi the chain. Thesechannels may be made suiiiciently large to convey two conductors in eachchannel, in whichcasetwo circuits are available. Or, alternatively, thechannels 'may be made smaller and less conspicuous, and may contain buta single conductor in each, thereby providing a somewhat less bulkychain, of somewhat more ornamental appearance. `Likewise it is possibleto provide three auxiliary coupling links as indicated, and .thus obtaina. greater strength, which is desirable 'tor the support et heavier.globes and lamps.

Alternatively, it is possible te avoid the utilizationot the auxiliarylinks 6 and 7 et 2 by providing hook members integral with the mainlinks as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In this ligure flat portions 1 and 2corre-V sponding to the similar portions in Fig. 2 are provided, withsimilar curved portions 3. Pertorations 4 and 5 are provided as in Fig,2, and in addition, tongue members 18 and 19 are formed upon one end oteach link. These tongue members are desirably oiiset slightly asindicated in Fig. Sand bent at a short distance trom their point ofattachment to the link. The bent tongue members may then be passedthroughthe pertorations in an adjacent link, the bending continued andthe ends passed through openings in the iirst links adjacent to thepoint of attachment as shown.V By this means a very streng connectionbetween'adj acent links is provided without the utilization of auxiliarylinks separate from the main links. Y

Alternatively, it may be tound convenient when a plural-ity et channelsare desired tor the passage o1 several conductors, to position thechannels at the outeredges ot the successive links, as shown in Figs. 10and 11. This construction provides aribbon-like chain ol substantialstrength, which is tree from serrated edges, and free from the tendencywhich may occur with other patterns et chain to engagement ot fragmentsot material which may comein contact with the chain, as 'for instancewhen paper decorations are, on occasion, attached. This construction isdef sirably lightened and ornamented by periorations ror vembossing oi'the flat portions as indicated. The Vadjacent links may be held togetherand in alignment by auxiliary-links 6 `and 7 as indicated, or anintegral tongue connection may be embodied 'similar to the constructionindicated in Fig. 9. Y Y

For certain uses it may be found undesirable toY provide pertorations ofthe kind indicated at 4 and 5 in Fig. 2. In such'cases slots, asindicated at 21. and 22 in Fig. 12, may be provided tor the positioningof the links 6 and v7. This construction is somewhat easierto assemble,and'likewise'provides adequate strength. Y

In the" construction of thechain of my invention, the respective halvesof successive links may be formed by stamping and bending from sheetmetal, similar members being combined face to face for the completion ofcach link. Vhen so combined, the respective stampings of each link areheld in position by the auxiliary links 6 and 7.

I prefer, however, to make each link of a single piece of sheet metal bystamping both halves from the sheet simultanenously, with the membersunited at a convenient point as shown in F ig. 13. This construction ispreferably formed by bending the blank material to forni the twosemicircular channel portions, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 thereafterbending` the blank to bring the two semicircular channel portionstogether face to face as in Figs. 16 and 17 and then stamping out thefinished link as in Figs. 18 and 19. By this means the respective halvesof each link are held much more firmly in contact, and there is lesstendency to spreading of the links when a conductor is drawn through thechannel, which is sufficiently large to make a close fit therethrough.

I have previously described my invention as made by either one of twodifferent processes, the simplest one resulting in a link having twoseparate members which are held in proper relationship by thecooperation of auxiliary links, the second embodiment describing a linkmade of a single piece of sheet material, folded to bring the curvedportions in proper relationship to form a tube. It is, however, notnecessary that the'links of my invention be made in Vthis manner.

Alternatively, it is possible to form the links of cast material as by adie-casting with the tubes as an integral element of the link,successive links being held in proper linear position in any convenientway. Alternatively, a number of modifications of the link of myinvention may be made. The links may be made in halves as previouslydescribed, and the halves may be held together by suitable means, suchas riveting. Or the linksk may be made with small projections, adaptedto be folded over the adjacent member,

thereby clamping the member together. As a further modification thelinks may, if desired, be constructed of the previously men'- tioned twoparts, which may then be soldered or brazed together in any convenientWay for the production of a very high grade chain of unusual strength.

By the device of my invention I am enabled to produce an ornamentalchain of substantial and adequate strength, inexpensively formed ofstamped sheet metal, having a channel therethrough for the substantiallycomplete concealment of a conductor member.

While I have shown several embodiments of my invention, it is capable ofstill other modifications therefrom without departing from the spiritthereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shallbe imposed thereon as are required by the prior art or indicated by theappended claims.

I claim as my invention: v

1. An electric fixture chain consisting of a series of links, each linkcomposed of two layers of sheet metal, said layers having opposingsemi-cylindrical channels which imite to form a conduit, said layersextending laterally therefrom in close relation to one another,andhaving openings on either side of the conduit, and links passingthrough said openings in planes at right angles to the plane of thelayer.

2. An electric fixture chain consisting of a series of links, each linkcomposed of two layers of sheet metal, said layers having opposingsemi-cylindrical channels which unite to form a conduit, said layersextending laterally therefrom in close relation to one another, andhaving openings on either side of the conduit, and links passing throughsaid openings in planes at right angles to the plane of the layer, saidlayers being cut away between said openings and the margins of the layerto permit engagement and Vdisengagement of said links with respect tosaid layers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

LOUIS LAUPOT.

